20 Best Apple Pie Recipes for Fall

Nothing says fall quite like a homemade apple pie! These 20 Best Apple Pie Recipes include everything from classic double-crust apple pie and Dutch apple pie to crumb-topped pies, slab pie and a few fun twists on the traditional favorite.

Apple pie is one of those desserts that never really goes out of style. You can serve it for Thanksgiving, bake one after a day of apple picking or make one simply because you have a big bag of apples sitting on the kitchen counter.

And while I’m always happy with a classic slice of warm apple pie and vanilla ice cream, there are so many different ways to make one!

I’ve gathered some of my favorite apple pie recipes from RecipeGirl along with great recipes from other trusted recipe sites. Whether you’re looking for an old-fashioned apple pie just like Grandma used to make or something a little different, you’ll find plenty of inspiration here. Apple pie is among the best apple dessert recipes!

What Are the Best Apples for Apple Pie?

The best apples for pie have plenty of flavor and a firm enough texture that they won’t turn into applesauce during baking.

Some of my favorites are:

Granny Smith: Tart, firm and probably the most familiar baking apple. They’re especially good in sweeter apple pie recipes.
Honeycrisp: Crisp and juicy with a nice balance of sweet and tart flavors.
Braeburn: Firm with a strong apple flavor and enough acidity to balance a sweet filling.
Pink Lady: Crisp, sweet-tart and excellent for baking.
Jonagold: Juicy and flavorful with a nice combination of sweetness and tartness.

One of my favorite tricks is to use more than one variety of apple in a pie. Combining tart and sweet apples gives the filling more complex flavor and texture.

Classic Apple Pie Recipes

We’ll start with the classics. Flaky pastry, plenty of apples, cinnamon and just enough sugar—sometimes you really don’t need to mess with a good thing.

1. Incredible Apple Pie — RecipeGirl

My Incredible Apple Pie is a little like a French apple pie and a great place to start this collection. Seven to eight apples are tossed with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice and piled into a homemade pie crust. Instead of adding a second pastry crust, the apples are covered with a buttery brown sugar streusel. It’s especially good served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

2. Classic Double Crust Apple Pie — RecipeGirl

This classic apple pie uses a combination of firm sweet-tart apples rather than relying on a single variety. The filling has brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg, while the homemade all-butter crust gets a little vodka and cider vinegar to help create a flaky texture. It’s a great choice when you’re looking for a traditional, impressive apple pie for Thanksgiving.

3. Easy Old Fashioned Apple Pie — Serious Eats

This is a classic apple pie with a golden crust and a thick filling, that doesn’t require precooking apples.

4. Apple Pie from Scratch — The Food Charlatan

This classic recipe has a double crust (you won’t miss that crumble), a cooked filling for the best texture and flavor, and is super easy to make.

5. Sweet & Spicy Apple Pie — Alton Brown

I mean, Alton Brown is all about the science of baking. So this one is definitely worth a try!

Dutch and Crumb-Topped Apple Pies

If choosing between flaky pie crust and buttery streusel feels impossible, don’t worry. These recipes give you the best of both worlds.

6. Dutch Apple Pie — RecipeGirl

Dutch apple pie swaps the traditional top crust for a generous buttery crumble. Underneath that crumb topping is a filling of tender cinnamon-spiced apples and a flaky bottom crust. This is the pie for anyone who believes the crumb topping is always the best part.

7. Apple Cranberry Crumb Pie with Whole Wheat Crust — RecipeGirl

The crust browns nicely, the crumble is golden, and the juices are perfectly oozing.

8. Cinnamon Crumble Apple Pie — Bon Appétit

This apple pie has a tall layer of apple filling covered with a thick cinnamon crumble. It’s a great alternative to making a lattice or double crust, and all of those buttery crumbs are especially good with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream.

9. Apple Crumble Pie — Martha Stewart

Can’t decide between apple crisp and apple pie? Apple crumble pie combines the flaky bottom crust of pie with the buttery topping of a crisp or crumble. It’s an especially good choice for fall gatherings because you get two favorite apple desserts in one.

Caramel Cranberry and Brown Butter Apple Pies

Caramel, Cranberry & Brown Butter Apple Pies

Apples already love cinnamon and brown sugar, but adding caramel or nutty brown butter takes apple pie in an even richer direction.

Apple pie is good all on its own, but add cranberries to create some interest and pair it with this fabulous oatmeal cookie crust, and you will love every bite!

11. Brown-Butter Apple Pie — Buttermilk by Sam

Classic apple pie with a brown butter twist: made with a brown butter crust and filled with thinly sliced, well-spiced apples, brown butter and brown sugar.

12. Deep Dish Dulce de Leche Apple Pie — RecipeGirl

This is a rich and decadent apple pie since all of that caramel goodness is added in. If you really love caramel apples, then this is the pie for you.

Fun Twists on Apple Pie

Traditional apple pie will always be a favorite, but sometimes it’s fun to change the shape, crust or presentation.

13. Apple Pie Bars — RecipeGirl

My Apple Pie Bars are perfect when you need apple pie for a crowd. And when I say they’re loaded with apples, I mean it—this recipe uses six pounds of apples! The lightly caramelized spiced apples are sandwiched between a bottom crust and an oat topping. The finished dessert is cut into bars, making it much easier to serve to a large group than traditional pie. The recipe makes 48 bars, so keep this one in mind for fall parties and holiday gatherings.

14. Apple Slab Pie — Recipe Girl

I love that it’s non-traditional, and it’s grab and go. You can slice a slab pie, and people can pick up pieces and eat it out-of-hand. It’s nice and sturdy that way. There are so many varieties of apple pie out there that you can bake, and this apple slab pie is definitely one to try. It’s not your usual apple pie.

15. Maple Apple Pie with Cheddar Cheese — Recipe Girl

In this recipe, the cheddar cheese is mixed into the filling, so it’s baked right in there. It’s a salty, savory taste combined with the sweetness of the apple filling. It’s fabulous!

16. Upside Down Apple Pecan Pie — RecipeGirl

I love this upside down apple pecan pie recipe because it’s still a double crust pie. You’ll get plenty of pie crust hidden in all of that apple- pecan madness. But it’s inverted onto a plate with the gooey pecan pecan layer sitting on top. How fun is that?

17. Praline Apple Pie — RecipeGirl

This is a double crust apple pie with a rich and decadent gooey praline topping drizzled on top.

Apple Pie-Inspired Desserts

Sometimes you want apple-pie flavor without making an actual traditional pie.

These recipes take the apples, cinnamon and buttery pastry flavors we love and turn them into something a little different.

18. Apple Pie Bread Pudding — Will Cook for Smiles

Comforting apple bread pudding made with easy homemade apple pie filling. Serve it hot and with some vanilla ice cream on top for the ultimate taste experience.

19. Cinnamon Apple Pie Cake — RecipeGirl

Is it cake or pie? This hybrid dessert brings apple-pie flavor into cake form. It’s a fun choice when you want something different for your fall dessert table but still want all of those familiar apple and cinnamon flavors.

20. Easy Swedish Apple Pie — Allrecipes

Swedish apple pie is a great option for anyone who loves apple pie but doesn’t love making pie crust. Instead of rolling pastry, a simple topping goes over the apples before baking. It’s easy, rustic and exactly the kind of dessert that’s best served warm with vanilla ice cream.

Tips for Making the Best Apple Pie

Use good baking apples. You want apples that will become tender but won’t completely break down in the oven.
Try mixing apple varieties. Combining sweet and tart apples can give your filling more interesting flavor and texture.
Keep pie dough cold. Cold butter or shortening helps create a flaky crust. If your dough becomes warm while you’re working with it, put it back into the refrigerator for a bit.
Don’t slice the apples too thick. Very thick slices may still be crunchy when the crust is fully baked.
Watch for bubbling filling. Apple pie isn’t necessarily done just because the crust looks brown. The juices in the filling should be visibly bubbling and thickening.
Protect the crust if necessary. If the edges are browning too quickly, cover them loosely with foil or use a pie-crust shield.
Let the pie cool before slicing. This may be the hardest apple-pie rule to follow! The filling continues to thicken as the pie cools. Cutting into it immediately can result in a runny filling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best apples for apple pie?

Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn and Jonagold are all excellent choices. A mixture of sweet and tart apples can give the pie especially good flavor.

How many apples do you need for an apple pie?

It depends on the size of the pie and apples. A standard 9-inch pie often uses around six to eight apples, but it’s much better to follow the weight or cup measurement given in your recipe.

Do you peel apples for apple pie?

Usually, yes. Removing the peel gives the finished filling a more tender, uniform texture.

Should You Cook Apples Before Making Apple Pie?

There isn’t one correct answer because both methods work. Some recipes call for putting raw apples directly into the crust, while others precook the filling. There’s also a third method: macerating the apples with sugar before baking. The sugar draws moisture from the fruit and begins softening it without fully cooking it. The important thing is to follow the method used in the particular recipe you’re making. Changing how the apples are prepared can alter both the amount of liquid in the filling and the final texture.

How Do You Keep the Bottom of Apple Pie from Getting Soggy?

A properly heated oven is important because you want the bottom crust to begin baking quickly. I also like baking fruit pies on a lower oven rack, where the bottom crust gets more direct heat. A metal pie pan generally conducts heat better than ceramic, while a clear glass pie plate gives you the advantage of being able to look underneath and see whether the crust has browned. And don’t pull the pie from the oven too early just because the top looks beautiful. You want the filling bubbling and the bottom crust thoroughly baked too.

How do you keep apple pie filling from being runny?

Use the thickener specified in the recipe and bake the pie until the filling is visibly bubbling. Then allow the finished pie plenty of time to cool so the filling can set before slicing.

Can You Make Apple Pie Ahead of Time?

Yes, which is one reason apple pie is such a good Thanksgiving dessert. You can usually make an apple pie the day before serving. Let it cool completely before covering it. If you want that just-baked warmth, gently reheat the pie before serving. Some recipes can also be assembled and frozen unbaked, then baked later. Follow the individual recipe’s freezing directions since baking times and techniques vary.

Should apple pie be refrigerated?

A traditional fruit-based apple pie can generally be kept covered at room temperature for a short period, but recipes containing custard, cream or other perishable ingredients should be refrigerated. Follow the storage instructions for the specific recipe.